Compact or the like



Jan. 4, 1938. TjscHlsGALl. 2,104,104

l COMPACT O R THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1935 fly] 13 INVENTOR,

Theodore Ji'ga/ZL, BY

H I 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFEicE COMPACT 0R THE LIKE Theodore Schisgall, New York, N. Y.

Application May 2,2,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to novelty boxes, such as compacts or the like.

It is an yobject of my invention to provide a novelty container in the nature of compacts for cosmetics.

It is further contemplated as an object of my invention to provide a novelty container in the nature of a compact with cosmetics which includes as features thereof ready accessibility of operation, particularly one in which a container including a cover` canV be operated with one hand, so that access may be had by operation with one hand, leaving the other hand free to reach the contents of the container or compact, such as cosmetic preparations, including powder, rouge and lipstick.

It is further contemplated as an object of my invention to provide a novelty container for cosmetics or the like, in which a closure member is readily and facilely operated to render the contents accessible, while assuring effective closure of the container to prevent accidental discharge of the contents.

It is further contemplated as an object of my invention to provide a novelty container in the nature of a compact, which permits ready and facile operation involving not only the use of the fingers of one hand, but also so positions the closure in relation to the container that mirror devices associated therewith may be rendered readily accessible for applying the make up and to facilely reach the various contents of a compact, leaving the user the freedom of the hands to the maximum extent.

Other objects of my invention reside in the provision of a novelty container including features for operating and maintaining closed a closure member therefor, combining compactness with facility of operation, having utility not only in relation to novelty boxes for cosmetics, but also other fields of usefulness.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or may be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing one embodiment of my device and the manner of operation;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figuren Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, with the closure member in the closed position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another em- 1935, serial No. 22,703 (C1. 132-83) bodiment of my invention, with the closure vmember in a closed position; Y

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5, with the closure member in the open position;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 8 is a. fragmentary plan view, partly in section,V of the embodiment shown in Figure '7, with the cover member open;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, showingV my invention with another embodiment of latching means for the closure.

Making referencey to the drawing, there is shown a container III, preferably rectangular in form and which may bemade from wood, metal or synthetic plastics, such vas phenol formaldehyde condensation resins.

The container is formed with end walls I I` and I2 and side walls I3 and I4.

Where the container is formed from Wood, these members may be suitably jointed to each other by dove-tailed joints. Where the container is made of synthetic plastics or metals, the Walls outlined above may be of integral construction. The walls outlining the container above described are provided with a bottom member I5 and this may preferably be a bevelled mirror adhesively connected to the Walls previously referred to.

The walls I3 and Ill above referred to are eX- tendecl above the upper edges of the walls II and I2 and are provide-d with longitudinal grooves I6 and I'I extending substantially throughout the entire length of the walls I3 and I4, respectively.

With the construction thus provided, there is combined a cover member I8 formed with lateral tongues I9 and 20, loosely tting Within the longitudinal grooves I6 and I1, respectively, permitting the cover member I8 to slide freely in either direction, as shown more clearly in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The lateral tongue I9 is formed with an extension 2|, adjacent the end 22 of the cover member. The lateral tongue 20 is formed with an extension 23 radjacent the end 24 of the cover member. In manufacture, after disposing the cover member I8 so as to have the tongues I9 and 2U and their extensions slide within the grooves Il and I6, respectively, provision is made to prevent displacement from this position. When so disposed, so as to have the cover member completely in alignment with the outlines of the container, there is inserted a fillet 25 adjacent the wall II into the groove I6. A fillet 26 is inserted in the groove I'I adjacent the wall I2. In operavthe lower face 34 of the cover member I8.

Referring now to the wall II, adjacent its up-Y per edge, there is formed a slot 21 within which Y there is disposed a bowed spring wire 28 anchored at its ends 29 and 3D in orifices 3| and 32.'

In its normal position, the bowed spring Wire,

28 extends above the upper edge 33 of the wall II into the plane of the lower surface 34 of the l cover member I 8.V On the face 34 of the cover member I8'there is formed a longitudinal recess 35, which is disposed in relation to the bowed spring member 28, so thatrwhen the cover member I8 is aligned with the outlines of, the walls of the container I0, a medial portion of the bowedspring 28 will Yenter-into the recess 35, providing suicient frictional engagement to prevent accidental or gravitational sliding of the cover member from the aligned position, Vbut offering insufficient friction to resist a positive sliding movement bythe fingers of the hand.

Within the container deined by the WallsjI I, I2, I3 and I4, there isV anchored a partition V36, dividing the container into compartments 31 and 38. The partition 36 is arranged to lie flushY with Attached to the partition 36,1 provide a closureV 39 using-a hinge 40. To the pintle 4I formed by the hinge 40, there is alixed a coiled spring 42 arranged to urge the closure 39 in the open posi-V tion, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. 'Ighe closure 39 is maintained in the covering'position shown more clearly in Figure 2, by the cover member I8. When the cover member is slid in the Aleft-hand direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the closure 39 will be maintained inthe coveringposition. When the cover member I8 is slid in the right-hand direction to substantially the limit of its position, as shown more clearly inydotted linev in Figure l, the'closure 39 will spring open, rendering the contents ofthe compartment 31 accessible.Y g

It will thus be apparent, by a simplemanipulation of the thumb of the hand of the user, as shown more clearly in YFigure 1*, that a left-hand sliding movement of the cover member I8 will render the compartment 38 accessible. A righthand movement of the thumb actuating the .cover member I8 and sliding the same in a righthand direction to substantially the limits of its movement, will result in permitting the closure member 39 to spring. open, rendering the compartment 31 accessible. ,v

.It is preferred by me to make the closure member 39 of thin metal with a highly polished sur- `holding the container.

YLikewise, inA sliding the cover member I8 to substantially the extreme right-hand position, as shown in dotted line in Figurel, the compartment 3I'is rendered accessible and the lower surface of the closure member 39 provides a mir-V rored surface. Y

In general, it will be observed that I have provided a novelty container in the nature of a compact which is readily manipulated by one hand of the user, leaving the other hand free and that in the normal position for operation for opening the compact or container, the contents will not be accidentally loosened or fall out from the container. Y' Y VIn general, it will also be observed that the operation for uncovering the contents of the container will at the same time, present the mirrored surfaces to view, to facilitate the application of the make up.

In Figure 5,1 have shown a container in the form of a compact Ia having a closure member I8a constructed substantially in the form as shown in Figure 1, except, however, that in this embodiment, theleft-hand Wall IIa is extended to the same depth as the side walls, thereby forming an abutment limiting-the left-hand Vsliding movement of the Vcover member I8a to the aligned position. The cover member I8a may slide ina right-hand direction, in the view as shown in Figure 6, and is otherwise provided With lateral tongues I9@ and an Vextension (not shown) cooperating with a fillet in the groove IEa, in a manner similar'to that provided in the embodiment already described.` This constructionY limits the sliding movement of the cover member I8a to the open position or closed position. Latching means of the character described in connection with the Yrst embodiment, comprising the bowed springV 28 and the groove 35 in the cover member, may be embodied in the end wall of the container Illa andthe cover member I8a, respectively. In this embodiment, a compartment 31arisY Ythereby provided for substantially the entire section ofthe container. A partition 36a Vserves Ato mount a closure element `39a connected by a hinge 4Il`a and opening with a springY action by the coiled spring 42a. f'

Thus, upon sliding the cover member |80. to the open position, `as shown in Figure 6, the closure 39a will spring open. As the cover member' I8a is moved in a left-hand direction to the closed position, the sliding member of the cover member I8a will serve to close the closure element 39a into a position f coven'ng the rcompartment 31a. The closure element 39a'is formed with mirrored surfaces to each surface thereof, so Vthat a slight tilting movement as it is held by the user will make the mirrored snrfaceavailable for viewing of the same, n Y

Y In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown another embodiment of my invention, in which a container IIlb is provided, with a cover member |817` thereon, having connection for sliding. The details thereof may be in the form as shown in Figures 5 and 6, so faras arrangementsfor sliding the cover member and for latchin-g the same against accidental sliding movement inthe form of the bowed spring v281) and the slot 35h, formed in the end Ywall IIb and cover member' |811, respectively. In

this construction, the vbottomis formed of a bevelled mirror It'ab` and the cover member may have adhesively attached thereto, a similar mirror which has been similarlydesignated by the numeral I5b. It will be observed that by this construction, a singlev compartment 3`Ibis provided and that in opening the cover memberV I8b` to the open position to render the contents of the compartment 37b acessible, the mirror Aon the cover member may be viewed atY the same time that the Cil compartment 31h is viewed, for purposes of facilitating the viewing of the contents of the compartment 31h and the mirror l5b mounted on the cover member, at a single glance.

While I have shown in connection with the embodiments illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, a cover member whose sliding movement is limited in one direction, it will be understood that the container illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 may have a cover member of the type illustrated in Figures 1l to 4, wherein the sliding movement may be in two directions from the aligned closed position.

In Figure 9, I have shown another embodiment of my invention in the form of a container lc which in all respects is constructed identical with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. However, I have included as auxiliary closing means as a substitute closing means, a construction in the form of a loop 28e pivoted in the end walls Ilo and l2c, respectively, by inwardly directing the ends 29o and 30e (not shown). The loop is pivoted to the position sh'own in Figure 9, the pivotal action being `from a position looping over the cover member |8c` to a position lying to one side of the side wall |30.

To prevent accidental displacement of the loop 28o from the position shown in Figure 9, I am providing a frictional or spring depressible pawl 35o.

The spring depressible pawl 35o lies on the path of lateral ends of the loop 28e, offering frictional resistance to accidental pivotal movement.

It will thus be apparent by this construction, that the cover member may be slid to a left-hand or right-hand direction in position, from the aligned closed position, by rst tilting the loop 28a to the position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 9, thereby releasing the cover for free slidable movement.

It will thus be observed that by the construction described and illustrated, I have devised a novelty container of exceedingly compact construction which maintains all parts for operation and use in a position which makes the contents readily accessible and easily viewed, and that operation may be accomplished with great facility by the movement of the `lingers of one hand as the article is held by the user, leaving the other hand free for manipulation of the cosmetic preparations.

It will further be observed, while I have described my novelty container as having primary utility for the provision of a cosmetic compact, that this device is available for other fields of utility, wherever equally convenient operations may be found desirable.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent, is

1. A novelty container or compact of a depth and width tting comfortably in the hands of a user and capable of being spanned by the thumb and iingers of one hand, comprising in combination, a primary shallow receptacle and a cover member, guiding means on said containerfor slidingly mounting said cover member and operable for sliding by the relative movement of the thumb to the ngers when the container is held by the ngers, a partition within said container, a hingeable closure serving as a mirror connected with said partition member, spring means for urging said closure to the open position, said closure lying in the path of movement of said cover member to urge said closure member tol the covering position upon movement of said cover member towards the aligned position of said cover member and receptacle, and frictional latching means in the path of. movement of said cover member operable by the positive relative sliding movement of the cover member and receptacle for maintaining said cover member and receptacle in aligned position against accidental displacement.

2. A novelty container or compact of a depth and width fitting comfortably in the hands of a user and capable of being spanned by the thumb and lingers of one hand, comprising in combination, a primary shallow receptacle and a cover member, guiding Vmeans on said container for slidingly mounting said cover member and operable for sliding by the relative movement of the thumb to the ngers when the container is held by the lingers, a partition within said container dividing said receptacle into a plurality of compartments, a hingeable closure serving asa mirror connected with said partition member, spring means for urging said closure to the open position, said closure lying in the path of movement of said cover member to urge said closure member to the covering position upon movement of said cover member towards the aligned position of said cover member and receptacle, and frictional latching means in the path of movement of said cover member operable by the positive relative sliding movement of the cover member and receptacle for maintaining said cover member and receptacle in aligned position against accidental displacement, said guiding means being formed to permit slidable movement of said cover member i over opposite edges of said receptacle to expose alternatively one of said compartments, said guiding means being formed with means for limiting the sliding movement of said cover member in either of the positions aforesaid.

THEODORE SCHISGALL. 

